Participación comunitaria en la implementación de sistemas de alerta temprana (SAT) en la gestión de riesgos y desastres,.

Abstract

Abstract: This paper analyzes community participation and its impact on the implementation of Early Warning Systems (EWS) in Loja. The objective was to evaluate how citizen participation improves the functioning and effectiveness of EWS in risk and disaster management. The methodology was mixed, combining quantitative (383 surveys) and qualitative (seven interviews) techniques. The results indicate that 63% of the community is aware of EWS, but 56% is poorly informed about current mechanisms, limiting their participation and response to emergencies. Furthermore, 61% perceive educational initiatives as ineffective, attributing this to a lack of training (56%). The acceptance of digital technologies, such as mobile applications (57%) and social media (31%), shows potential for improving communication and community engagement. However, low participation and low levels of information restrict the effectiveness of EWS. Concluding that strengthening education, information dissemination, and active participation, along with the strategic use of technologies, are essential to increasing Loja's resilience to disasters.